Page 57 of Her Honorable Hero

“I’m fine with a shower,” she said in a tired voice.

He plugged the tub and started the water running. He poured in the bath salts that she liked.

“Is this about last night’s migraine?”

“And you working on your computer for five hours tonight.”

“Only four and a half,” she protested.

“Five.”

“You’re intent on pampering me, huh?” She sat down on the side of the bathtub.

“I’m giving it my best shot.”

“What’s wrong?”

“That’s my line.” Griff winced when he heard how hard that came out.

“Honey, I’m sorry I worried you. I didn’t mean to.”

“And therein lies the problem,” he sighed. “You know, leaning on me isn’t a crime.”

She drew back and searched his face. “What are you talking about? I lean on you all the time.”

Griff used the biggest gun in his arsenal and stayed silent.

“I do. I lean on you a lot,” she insisted. “I miss you like hell when you’re on a mission, and when you come back, I practically fall into your arms.”

“Miranda, why don’t you wake me up when you have nightmares?”

She turned her face and looked into the rising water. “I told you, I don’t remember those.”

He would have called her a liar again, but he couldn’t stomach it. It hurt. They were three years into their marriage, they had a child together, and she still didn’t share the things that hurt her.

Fuck silence.

“Wouldn’t it feel better to share what’s hurting you?” he ground out.

She turned back to him, and her eyes were wet. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anybody in my life, besides Livvie. I trust you more than I’ve ever trusted anybody in my life. I know you don’t believe me, Griffin, but it’s true. But there’s just some things that I need to work out on my own.”

He looked at her. Looked deep in her eyes. He pulled her hand and placed it over his heart. “You have to trust me. This isn’t just you and me, this is Livvie. This is the child you might be carrying right now. I need you to dig deep. I know it hurts. I know it’s scary. I know it goes against all of your beliefs to trust that I’ll love you no matter what. That’ll I’ll never go away. But I won’t. Even if I get angry, I won’t go away. Even if I’m pissed as hell, I’m going to love you until the earth crumbles. I’m going to love you past forever.”

Her lip trembled.

“You can’t.”

“I will, Baby,” he said hoarsely.

He watched as tears welled in her beautiful blue eyes.

“It’s bad.” She looked down, her voice faltering. “I’m bad. I should never have been born.”

His gut clenched.

What was she going to say? Could he handle it?

“You’re not bad. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I adore you. Tell me, I’m your safe place.”